Forage Foundations

By Katelyn Goldsmith, Vita Plus | With spring’s arrival comes the anticipation of field work.  This is the perfect time to review the tools to optimize crop outputs.  Three simple tools and practices can be used to assess your alfalfa stands, predict quality, and estimate harvest timing.

By Cody McCary, Vita Plus | It is an exciting time of year!  In northern states, fields are greening up and life seems to be coming back from what may feel like a frozen tundra at times. In southern states, warmer temperatures have returned and, in many areas, annual crops have been planted, providing hope for the year to come.

By Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Vita Plus | A rapid decline in pH is crucial to achieving an optimal silage fermentation, preserving silage nutrients, and maximizing the feed’s value. Research-proven bacterial inoculants are valuable tools in driving this rapid pH decline amidst the variables that can affect the ensiling process.

By Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Ph.D., Vita Plus | When harvesting and storing forage, getting everything right results in better yields and high-quality forages.  But stars must align for success.

By Brock Irwin | Tips provided for building a supportive farm culture, recognizing mental health challenges and having discussions about mental health.

By Jarrod Blackburn, Vita Plus dairy specialist | Land prices are soaring throughout the Midwest as the competition to purchase available acres increases.  Thus, dairy producers are looking for ways to maximize their acres from harvest to the bulk tank.

By Steve Murty, Vita Plus, forage products specialist | The same questions arise several times every spring.  "Will my alfalfa stands survive another season?  Will there be enough forage this coming year?"  A proactive approach to answering these questions begins in late fall after you have filled the silos, pumped the pits and seeded cover crops.

By Michelle Der Bedrosian, Ph.D., Vita Plus | In the world of silage production, achieving optimal fermentation and a rapid pH decline are key to preserving forage quality and maximizing feed value. The pH of the silage is one of the most crucial factors in this process, affecting the overall nutritional quality of the feed.

By Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Ph.D., Vita Plus, and Adam Durrin, Aurox | In the agricultural industry, efficient silage management is crucial for maintaining a steady and reliable supply of feed for feedstock.  One of the challenges in this process is accurately estimating shrink during storage.  Traditional methods of estimating these losses, such as measuring the density of the pile with a drill and probe and then measuring pile disappearance, can be time consuming and prone to errors.  However, with the advancements in drone technology, there is now a more efficient and precise solution.

By Mark Leggett, Ph.D., Volac International Ltd. | Bacteria are the driving force in the silage’s fermentation.  Silage inoculants are applied to speed up the fermentation and preserve silage dry matter.  Ensuring your silage is fermented by the best and most efficient bacterial strains starts in the laboratory.

Maximizing homegrown nutrients is a key strategy to manage costs in today’s volatile markets.  Vita Plus consultants are committed to providing service and technology to help you get the most from your forages.

By Paulina Letelier, Ph.D., Vita plus | Many farms throughout the Midwest reported harvesting drier-than-ideal corn silage this season. Here are some strategies to get the most from these dry corn silages.

By Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Ph.D., Vita Plus | A key component of reducing purchased feed costs is maximizing the nutrients available from your forages. Quickly dropping the silage pH to preserve dry matter and preventing spoilage puts more homegrown nutrient in front of your cows. Crop-N-Rich Nexus silage inoculant helps you economically achieve that goal.

By Michelle Chang-Der Bedrosian, Steve Murty, and Cody McCary, Vita Plus | What combination of crops allows you to get the most from each acre? A Forage Efficiency Audit can help you compare the value of the crop you harvested to the potential value of other crops you could harvest on the same acreage.

By Cody McCary, Vita Plus forage specialist | Measuring and tracking forage inventories is increasingly important as producers seek to make profitable decisions for their farming businesses.  At Vita Plus, our certified remote pilots have successfully implemented drone technology to provide inventory measurements of silage piles.  This new strategy provides a simple and much more accurate means of measuring inventory compared with past techniques.  The following are key reasons why drone technology may be the next step for your forage inventory management.